On An Ancient Obelisk

Margaret Chalmers

The subject of the following Poem is a Stone of immense size, generally called the "Standing Stone," in the Island of Bressa, opposite to Lerwick.

Thou monument equivocal, say, why
Dost thou in silence rear thy top on high?
In grandeur rude, and "pointing to the skies,"
Thou "lift'st the head," but who can say "it lies."

Thou some event or person seemst to mark,
But what or who thou leav'st us in the dark.
Not Mollison's ingenious, useful art,*
Could thee induce thy purpose to impart;
Hadst thou e'er spoke thy secrecy were vain,
He would have taught thee to have spoke again;
Thou dost his strictest scrutiny elude,
For letter never mark'd thy surface rude,
Save where detach'd initials appear
Of absent fair, to wand'ring sailor dear.

Faithless, yet faithful to thy ancient charge,
Tacit--yet leav'st conjecture scope at large;
Though thy blank height nor date, nor record brings,
Yet still thou speakst--and speakst majestic things!
As under thy inspiring shade we draw,
Thou fillst the mind with images of awe!
Whence was that voice in fancy's ear, which said,
"Thou treadst the ashes of the mighty dead?"
Although in mystic silence thou dost mock
Inquiry, and thy origin fast lock,
Thou dost arous'd attention interest,
And the surmising query oft suggest;
As--in what age wast rais'd? at whose command?
If Pictish, or if Scandinavian hand
Sunk deep thy base, and bade thee time withstand?

(Extract)

Author's Note: * The invention of Mr. Mollison, Glasgow, for recovering inscriptions that have been much defaced by time.